2022 Bourgogne Aligoté, Marc Colin & Fils

A grape that was first recorded in Burgundy in the 18th century and is still planted almost exclusively there, though there are limited plantings in Bulgaria, Moldavia and even California. It is a moderate-yielding grape that tends to perform best on south-east facing slopes and in warm, dry years.

Located in Burgundy, Bourgogne Aligoté is renowned for producing crisp and refreshing white wines primarily from the Aligoté grape variety. Known for their lively acidity and citrus notes, the wines offer a delightful alternative to the more famous Chardonnay-based wines of the region. The terroir of Bourgogne Aligoté imparts unique mineral nuances, resulting in wines with a distinct character and finesse, perfect for pairing with light dishes.

Domaine Marc Colin Marc Colin has now handed over this leading St-Aubin domaine to three of his children, Damien, Joseph and Caroline. The eldest, Pierre-Yves, was involved until 2005 harvest, when he took out his share of the vineyards to be worked separately. The remainder is still a sizeable operation, with 20 hectares spread between 30 appellations, 25 of them for white wines. The Colin reds come from St-Aubin, Chassagne-Montrachet and Santenay, including a fine vieilles vignes bottling which comes from a plot in Les Champs Claude planted in 1901. This and the Saint-Aubin Les Frionnes are worthy of note, though the Domaine is much better known for its white wines. These include no less than eight bottlings of premier cru St-Aubin plus Puligny- and Chassagne-Montrachet and their associated grands crus.